Colorado politics headlines for Nov. 10

UDALL CALLS FOR GAYS TO SERVE OPENLY: With the effort to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy facing uncertain prospects in Congress, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, the Connecticut independent, and two Senate Democrats, Mark Udall of Colorado and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, on Tuesday reiterated their call for allowing gay soldiers to serve openly, according to The Caucus blog.

BENNET THANK-YOU TOUR: Newly elected Sen. Michael Bennet was on a “thank you” tour Tuesday, starting in Boulder and visiting Greeley, Fort Collins, Fort Morgan, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and finally Alamosa. In Pueblo he told a small group of Democratic supporters: “People said that in this political atmosphere, a Democrat couldn’t hold this seat, but you proved them wrong,” according to The Pueblo Chieftain.

CAN YOU SPOT ME A FIVE? In a fundraising e-mail to supporters Tuesday, Bennet asked for a “final contribution of $5 or more now” to help pay off some outstanding debt, Roll Call reports. On his most recent Federal Election Commission filing, Bennet reported $887,692 in debt through Oct. 13. Much of that money came from his own pocket. Bennet loaned his campaign $800,000, including a $500,000 loan in the first two weeks of October.

DEGETTE AND DEM LEADERSHIP: Democratic Reps. Xavier Becerra (Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Joseph Crowley (N.Y.) and Diana DeGette (Colo.), among others, were all seen as top contenders to move up but have found themselves in limbo as Nancy Pelosi locks down the minority-leader post and Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn vie for whip, The Hill reports.

PITKIN GIVES NOD TO GEMS PLAN: Pitkin County moved closer Tuesday to recommending congressional protection for 62,846 acres of backcountry land even though the election clouded the future of the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal, The Aspen Times reports.

NEIGHBORHOOD DRILLING: Anxious residents of the Silt Mesa and Peach Valley areas on Tuesday won the support of two Garfield County commissioners in a fight to keep a gas drilling company from greatly increasing the density of gas wells in the neighborhoods, The Glenwood Springs P-I reports.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.